U.S. patent application number 10/165386 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for holster for a handgun.
Invention is credited to Har-Shen, Chanan.
Application Number | 20030226866 10/165386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29710427 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030226866 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Har-Shen, Chanan |
December 11, 2003 |
Holster for a handgun
Abstract
The invention provides a top-draw security holster for a handgun
having a trigger guard of the type wherein the security holster is
orientated for wearing by a user and comprises a holster body
having an inner and an outer side wall, an open top, a back and an
at least partially-closed and non-opening front wherein a holster
cavity is defined in said holster body characterized in that said
security holster is provided with a flexible U-shaped latch control
means having an inner arm and an outer arm bracketing a trigger
guard receiving area of said holster cavity, wherein said inner arm
is provided with an integral boss, which in the relaxed state of
said latch control means extends into the trigger guard cavity of a
handgun inserted in said holster body preventing drawing said
handgun therefrom and said outer arm projects outwardly from said
outer side wall of said holster body, wherein movement of said
outer arm towards said holster in turn moves said inner arm away
from said trigger guard thereby allowing the drawing of said
handgun from said holster cavity in a straight upward motion
through the open top of said holster body.
Inventors: |
Har-Shen, Chanan; (Kfar
Hess, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
M. John Carson
Twenty-Ninth Floor
865 South Figueroa
Los Angeles
CA
90017-2571
US
|
Family ID: |
29710427 |
Appl. No.: |
10/165386 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/244 ;
224/912 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/0209 20130101;
Y10S 224/911 20130101; F41C 33/0263 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/244 ;
224/912 |
International
Class: |
F41C 033/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A top-draw security holster for a handgun having a trigger guard
of the type wherein the security holster is orientated for wearing
by a user and comprises a holster body having an inner and an outer
side wall, an open top, a back and an at least partially-closed and
non-opening front wherein a holster cavity is defined in said
holster body characterized in that said security holster is
provided with a flexible U-shaped latch control means having an
inner arm and an outer arm bracketing a trigger guard receiving
area of said holster cavity, wherein said inner arm is provided
with an integral boss, which in the relaxed state of said latch
control means extends into the trigger guard cavity of a handgun
inserted in said holster body preventing drawing said handgun
therefrom and said outer arm projects outwardly from said outer
side wall of said holster body, wherein movement of said outer arm
towards said holster in turn moves said inner arm away from said
trigger guard thereby allowing the drawing of said handgun from
said holster cavity in a straight upward motion through the open
top of said holster body.
2. A top-draw security holster according to claim 1, wherein said
U-shaped latch control means is made of a unitary strip of flexible
plastic.
3. A top-draw security holster according to claim 1, wherein said
U-shaped latch control means is integrally formed with said holster
body and made from the same plastic material.
4. A top-draw security holster according to claim 1, wherein said
outer arm is positioned to be engaged by the index finger of the
user wearing said holster when withdrawing said handgun.
5. A top-draw security holster according to claim 1, wherein said
outer arm is positioned to be engaged by the palm of the user
wearing said holster when withdrawing said handgun.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to handgun holsters.
[0002] More particularly, the invention provides a security catch
for a rigid plastic holster which catch prevents an assailant from
taking the handgun, yet provides practically no impediment to fast
drawing of the weapon by its legitimate user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is a modification of and an
improvement on the invention described in Israel Specification No.
129,683 and corresponding U.S. application Ser. No. 09/546,506 the
teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in the
present application.
[0004] The advantages of the rigid plastic handgun holster,
typically comprising of three injection molded castings joined
together, have been explained in the above-mentioned specification.
In particular the advantages of the rigid holster over the
conventional leather item include quicker draw and a more stable
handgun orientation. The former patent did not however refer to a
security device intended to prevent accidental loss of the weapon
or its seizure by a hostile person. Protection against such
eventualities is known to be important to users, who will agree to
pay a little extra for a holster having some form of security
catch.
[0005] There is little difficulty in preventing withdrawal of a
handgun from a holster by application of one of many known locking
devices. These however do not allow for a fast draw in case the
user experiences sudden danger from an unanticipated encounter. For
police officers and other persons carrying out dangerous missions,
the difference between fast and slow weapon deployment can decide
the chance of survival.
[0006] Prior art devices are disclosed in the following US
Patents.
[0007] Hamby, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,811 discloses a spring-release
sliding latch to be released by the user pushing a lever for a
partial revolution. The device if not kept clean and oiled is
likely to jam so as to prevent the spring releasing the latch.
[0008] Atkins describes a safety device relying on hook and loop
fastener tabs in the nylon fabric holster described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,480,776. Before weapon withdrawal the user must separate the
tabs by running a thumb therebetween. In view of this, It is
doubted whether fast withdrawal is possible.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,655 to Barry discloses a holding strap
assembly on a gun holster offering three degrees of security at the
cost of extended draw times for the more secure modes. Use of the
device may well require user instructions. The strap assembly
employs hook and loop fastening pads.
[0010] Adjustability is also offered by the locking system proposed
by Young in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,799. A rotary control allows for
setting to a fully locked position as well as various degrees of
force needed to remove the gun from its holster. The problem is
that gun owners can not know in advance when there will arise a
sudden need for self defense; a securely locked weapon at such a
time can be fatal.
[0011] A break-open front is a feature of the holster disclosed by
Grummet in U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,236. The holster is restrained by a
strap. A strap release device is provided as part of the holster.
Release of the handgun thus requires two consecutive actions.
[0012] Solenoid activated lock release is featured in U.S. Pat. No.
5,449,103 to Tilley. The obvious problem is that mobile power
sources and switching devices become unreliable after an extended
time period, so that the weapon may be unavailable when needed.
[0013] The limitations of prior art holster security devices
illustrate that not surprisingly a higher degree of security is
paid for by decreased release reliability and longer draw time.
There is the further consideration that the cost of many of the
prior art devices--for example the electrically-releasable lock
proposed by Tilley--are unacceptable where the same end can be
achieved at much lower cost and for less added weight.
[0014] It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention
to obviate the disadvantages of prior art security holsters and to
provide a gun retention device which allows for the fastest
possible release.
[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
such a fast-release device at a cost which is practically
insignificant relative to the cost of the holster assembly
itself.
[0016] The present invention achieves the above objects by
providing a top-draw security holster for a handgun having a
trigger guard of the type wherein the security holster is
orientated for wearing by a user. The holster body has an inner and
an outer side wall, an open top, a back and an at least
partially-closed and non-opening front wherein a holster cavity is
defined in the holster body characterized in that the security
holster is provided with a flexible U-shaped latch control means
having an inner arm and an outer arm bracketing a trigger guard
receiving area of the holster cavity, wherein the inner arm is
provided with an integral boss.
[0017] In the relaxed state, the latch control means extends into
the trigger guard cavity of a handgun inserted in the holster body
preventing drawing the handgun therefrom. The outer arm projects
outwardly from the outer side wall of the holster body. Movement of
the outer arm towards the holster in turn moves the inner arm away
from the trigger guard thereby allowing the drawing of the handgun
from the holster cavity in a straight upward motion through the
open top of the holster body.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is
provided a top-draw security holster wherein the U-shaped latch
control means is integrally formed with the holster body and made
from the same plastic material.
[0019] In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention
there is provided top-draw security holster wherein the outer arm
is positioned to be engaged by the index finger or by the palm of
the user wearing the holster when withdrawing the handgun.
[0020] In especially preferred embodiments of the present invention
said latch-control means is intended for use in conjunction with
the holster described and claimed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/546,506, the
teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference and in
which there is claimed a rigid plastic hand gun clip-on holster,
comprising a rigid plastic holster having inner dimensions
complementary to the configuration of the outer sections of a hand
gun to be placed therein, wherein said holster is a product of
injection molding and wherein said holster further comprises a
retention member for mounting said holster on the upper rim of the
user's pants, wherein said retention member has a lateral step
configuration along the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby said
step forms a ledge that can underride a belt, and wherein the ledge
of said step further comprises at least two spaced-apart upwardly
extending flanges for hooking against the front surface of said
belt, whereby said holster and said flanges are located forwardly
at the front said of said belt thereby enabling said belt to act as
stop means preventing upward movement of said holster, while
allowing the quick draw of a gun therefrom.
[0021] Yet further embodiments of the invention will be described
hereinafter.
[0022] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,013 Collins describes and claims a
top draw security holster designed to prevent an assailant from
drawing a handgun from the holster while allowing one wearing the
holster to draw the handgun from the holster in a straight and
upward motion after easily and quickly moving a latch control to a
released position. The holster is made of leather, which is an
unsuitable material for the latch catch, which therefore needs to
be made by the addition of a metal component. The latch comprises a
flexible arm integrally connected to a side wall adjacent to a
window in the side wall, and further comprises a boss integrally
connected to the arm. In the released position the arm is allowed
to be in a relaxed state outwardly extending from the side wall so
as to allow insertion of the handgun, or straight and upward
removal therefrom. In the latched position, the boss extends
through the window and inside the trigger guard preventing handgun
removal.
[0023] The holster described thus requires the user to execute two
consecutive actions to withdraw the weapon.
[0024] With reference to his FIG. 4 Collins describes in more
detail a procedure for drawing the handgun from the holster. The
user applies a thumb against thumb break strap 40 to unsnap such
strap from restraining strap 42, and then moves the thumb rearward
in a substantially continuous and fluid motion so as to apply
pressure to thumb tab 66 and unsnap paddle 48 from its latched
position. The substantially rearward motion of the upper end 68 of
paddle 48 is indicated by an arrow on the figure. The resulting
released position of the paddle 48 allows arm 24 to be in its
relaxed state, allowing insertion or withdrawal of the handgun.
[0025] In contradistinction thereto, the present invention allows
for a quicker draw, and not only because the plastic holster has a
much lower coefficient of friction than a leather holster. User
withdrawal of the handgun is possible in what can be considered a
single action comprising two components--applying pressure to the
outer arm of the latch control U while drawing the handgun upwards.
There are no straps requiring release. The result is a quicker
draw, as will be further elaborated--which in an emergency
situation could be the difference between accomplishing a mission
and becoming a casualty.
[0026] It will thus be realized that the novel security catch of
the present invention allows the use of the weapon by its wearer in
one instinctive movement. The same hand that grips the butt of the
handgun applies pressure to the release catch and pulls the gun out
of the holster in one instinctive movement.
[0027] Assuming the worst case, that a proximate assailant knows
that the gun trigger guard is retained by a catch, and also knows
what must be done to release the catch, theft of the weapon is not
easily achieved. An assailant trying to steal the gun needs to use
both hands--one hand to press the release catch and a second hand
to pull out the weapon. Were both hands of the attacker thus
occupied, the weapon owner would have an excellent opportunity for
self-defense.
[0028] While all the embodiments of the holster of the present
invention can be manufactured at a cost which is barely affected by
the security catch, the embodiment seen in FIG. 4 will be of
particular interest in this regard.
[0029] Although the illustrated example holster is intended for use
of right-handed persons, it is to be understood that a holster
providing exactly the same advantages will also be produced
configured for use of left-handed users.
[0030] Full constructional details of the holster body were given
in our previous patent and are not repeated in the present
specification.
[0031] The invention will now be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following
illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
[0032] With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention only and are presented in the cause of
providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of
the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show
structural details of the invention in more detail than is
necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be
embodied in practice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] In the drawings:
[0034] FIG. 1 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the
holster according to the invention, part of the back wall being
fragmented to reveal inner details;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of U-shaped latch control
means;
[0037] FIG. 3b is a side view detail of a retention pocket for the
latch control;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a latch control means
integrally formed with a side wall;
[0039] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an embodiment showing latch
release by finger; and
[0040] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an embodiment arranged for
latch release by the palm of the user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0041] There is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a top-draw security holster
10 for a handgun 12 having a trigger guard 14. The security holster
10 is orientated for wearing by a user. The holster can suitably be
made of a high-density thermoplastic grade of polyurethane. This
material has outstanding flex life, cut resistance and abrasion
resistance.
[0042] The holster body 16 has an inner 18 and an outer 20 side
wall, an open top 22, a back 24 and an at least partially-closed
and non-opening front 26. A holster cavity 28 is defined in the
holster body 16. Attached to the holster body 16 at an upper edge
30 is a retention member 32 which enables mounting the holster on
the upper rim of a user's pants (not shown).
[0043] The holster body 16 supports a flexible U-shaped latch
control means 34 having an inner arm 36 and an outer arm 38
bracketing a trigger guard receiving area 40 of the holster cavity
28. The inner arm 36 is provided with an integral boss 42. The
U-shaped latch control means 34 in the present embodiment is formed
from a stainless steel strip. The U-shaped latch control means 34
is molded together with or riveted to the holster inner side wall
18.
[0044] In the relaxed state, the latch control means 34 extends
into the trigger guard cavity of a handgun 12 inserted in the
holster cavity 28, preventing drawing the handgun 12 therefrom. The
outer arm 38 projects outwardly from the outer side wall 20 of the
holster body 16. Movement of the outer arm 38 as result of pressure
applied thereon by a user towards the holster in turn moves the
inner arm 36 away from the trigger guard 14. This allows drawing of
the handgun 12 from the holster cavity 28 in a straight upward
motion through the open top 22 of the holster body 16.
[0045] With reference to the rest of the figures, similar reference
numerals have been used to identify similar parts.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3a, there is seen a U-shaped latch
control means 46 molded of a unitary strip of flexible plastic. A
lower retention boss 48 is rigidly retained in a pocket 50, seen in
FIG. 3b, formed between the inner side wall 52 and the outer side
wall 54 of the holster body 56. The advantage of this arrangement
is that latch control means 46 may be molded from a high
performance engineering plastic, for example acetal, while the
holster body may be molded from a lower cost thermoplastic.
[0047] Seen in FIG. 4 is an inner side wall 58 of a top-draw
security holster wherein the U-shaped latch control means 60 is
integrally formed with said side wall, and is made from the same
plastic material. The manufacturing cost of a holster with the
latch 60 is almost the same as its cost without any latch.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a top-draw
security holster 62 wherein the outer arm 64 is positioned to be
engaged by the index finger 66 of the user wearing the holster 62
when withdrawing the handgun 12 seen in FIG. 1.
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a top-draw security holster 68 wherein the
outer arm 70 is slightly wider and extends further towards the
closed edge 72 of the trigger guard cavity 74 of the holster 68.
The outer arm 70 is thus positioned to be engaged by the palm 76 of
the user wearing the holster 68 when withdrawing the handgun 12
seen in FIG. 1. This form of catch release may be more convenient
for some users than using the index finger 66 alone as seen in the
previous figure.
[0050] Furthermore, as is known, in the old west of the US one of
the terms used to describe the quick drawing of a gun was to "slap
leather". As will be realized this term comes from the natural
movement of the gunfighter's hand from a relaxed position to an
upward sliding movement along the outer surface of the then leather
holsters culminated in the withdrawal of the gun from the holster
in a single sweeping motion which began with the "slapping of the
leather holster".
[0051] This embodiment of the present invention envisions the exact
same movement of the users hand wherein the palm of the user
engages the latch and disengages the same from the trigger guard in
said same sweeping motion.
[0052] It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing
illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *